``Here we go. I am teaching an ESL class. A system like this could help them.''
I wrote this in less time than I would've otherwise, they were numbered suggestions, and I typed the number for the one I wanted.
Google Scribe.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
PenPal
Per Prof. Altamirano's advice I joined PenPalWorld . You can see me after leaving the site here. One gets the opportunity this way of writing in a different language.
My intention in joining is to use translation tools.
If any of you feels like getting a friend that will take the time to teach you English that way; go ahead.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Research Paper Guides Online
Research Papers: Political Science Research Writing Made Easy
A helpful source for Mathematics Education paper writing, is the Internet. Students are required to write frequently, and there are specialized sites to get hints; or outright plagiarism centers. Students in a hurry just download something to satisfy the professor. This practice has become so widespread that there are new companies that help professors spot cheaters. They scan both the homework and the Internet, if they find a match, they inform the professor; clearly it is up to him or her to decide the course of action, it can go from outright expulsion from school, to a lower grade. It is up to her or him.
A helpful source for Mathematics Education paper writing, is the Internet. Students are required to write frequently, and there are specialized sites to get hints; or outright plagiarism centers. Students in a hurry just download something to satisfy the professor. This practice has become so widespread that there are new companies that help professors spot cheaters. They scan both the homework and the Internet, if they find a match, they inform the professor; clearly it is up to him or her to decide the course of action, it can go from outright expulsion from school, to a lower grade. It is up to her or him.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Google Translate
Lesson Plans
Americans have a long tradition of providing English lessons to immigrants. As I've written in other posts, this activity is called English as a Second Language (ESL), actually my brother in law makes his living like that in the UCLA area, where he was born. He came to visit our family in Puebla, traveled to Veracruz, I took him to Mexico City, and finally he ended up staying for long periods in Brazil; with all that cultural enrichment, I do not have any doubt that he is a good ESL teacher. We could invite him, he'll love to stay in Acapulco!
Another good practice Americans have, and not only for ESL, is the Lesson Plans. At teachers schools they teach them to write instructions for themselves and others on how to conduct a class, any class. I just made a Google search for ESL Lesson Plans, and I got more than I can use: Here is a site I intend to use.
Another good practice Americans have, and not only for ESL, is the Lesson Plans. At teachers schools they teach them to write instructions for themselves and others on how to conduct a class, any class. I just made a Google search for ESL Lesson Plans, and I got more than I can use: Here is a site I intend to use.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Particle Zoo
The Nobel Foundation maintains a site about the structure of matter here.
Following the link above, I walk you through this Particle Zoo.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Mathematics Education English Program Given at Chilpancingo
This Program is intended for Mathematics Education Professionals.
The Mathematics Education professionals, as many other groups, have a globalized presence. It is necessary to speak a common language, and English seems to fit the bill. Professional associations like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, have addressed this problem with Technical English Programs for their members (below). This program is for Mathematics Education professionals. The objective of this program is English fluency; to achieve this goal there are sub-objectives described here. Before writing one has to speak English even if at an elementary level. The Internet provides communication opportunities in English.
a. Novice
b. Intermediate
Meetings every other day for an hour and a half. Elementary conversation in meetings, viewing and discussing short science and technology videos. After reading articles in the area, present the contents, also for the videos watched. Weekly quizzes on assigned material. Written exams every other week.
Every language has a syntactic structure, English has a different one from other languages. The activities of English as a Second Language, acknowledge the fact that students are literate in their first language. Grammar and syntactic structure are parts of the general education of English speaking students; a good scholarly written paper follows the rules of educated professionals. Some native speakers do not understand academic English, and cannot write academic papers. Part of the activities in this program lead to good writing. The book by E. B. White; ``The Elements of Style,'' will be used in the Intermediate and Advanced sections of this course.
Students present short papers. Instructor corrects grammar,syntax,and style.
Students present their work in spoken English, instructor corrects presentation.
3. Evaluation
There are written and oral examinations at each level of the course.
From level to level the expected proficiency has to be demonstrated. The ability to perform at the last level ends this course of study.
Quizzes and tests are important because a foreign language is learned through practice, total immersion is best, but during the course, efforts are made to obtain as much practice as time allows.
Each level is estimated to last three months.
4. Conclusion
Materials are obtained online, either from IEEE (ieee.tv) or other sources, articles from clame.org, Springer Publishing, and other online sources. There are books and articles in our Centro de Investigación en Matemática Educativa (CIMATE), the libraries in other Mexican institutions where this discipline is cultivated are available as well. There are Internet connections allowing some of this work to be done online, and some face to face. As mentioned before the need to communicate with peers appears fortunately at the same time that technological means open up for members of this global community.
- Objectives
- Activities
- Evaluation
- Conclusion
The Mathematics Education professionals, as many other groups, have a globalized presence. It is necessary to speak a common language, and English seems to fit the bill. Professional associations like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, have addressed this problem with Technical English Programs for their members (below). This program is for Mathematics Education professionals. The objective of this program is English fluency; to achieve this goal there are sub-objectives described here. Before writing one has to speak English even if at an elementary level. The Internet provides communication opportunities in English.
a. Novice
- Speaks English on Mathematics Education
- Writes abstracts
- Reads articles in the field
- Understands short video presentations on science and technology
- Uses translation tools online (Google Translate)
b. Intermediate
- Presents Mathematics Education results in English
- Writes articles for professional magazines
- Understands live presentations on the subject
- Discusses research results with colleagues
- Presents mathematics lectures to students
- Invites and hosts non-Spanish speaking professionals
- Participates in review boards for English speaking organizations
- Stays for extended periods in non-Spanish speaking countries
- Fluency beyond disciplinary subjects
Meetings every other day for an hour and a half. Elementary conversation in meetings, viewing and discussing short science and technology videos. After reading articles in the area, present the contents, also for the videos watched. Weekly quizzes on assigned material. Written exams every other week.
Every language has a syntactic structure, English has a different one from other languages. The activities of English as a Second Language, acknowledge the fact that students are literate in their first language. Grammar and syntactic structure are parts of the general education of English speaking students; a good scholarly written paper follows the rules of educated professionals. Some native speakers do not understand academic English, and cannot write academic papers. Part of the activities in this program lead to good writing. The book by E. B. White; ``The Elements of Style,'' will be used in the Intermediate and Advanced sections of this course.
Students present short papers. Instructor corrects grammar,syntax,and style.
Students present their work in spoken English, instructor corrects presentation.
3. Evaluation
There are written and oral examinations at each level of the course.
From level to level the expected proficiency has to be demonstrated. The ability to perform at the last level ends this course of study.
Quizzes and tests are important because a foreign language is learned through practice, total immersion is best, but during the course, efforts are made to obtain as much practice as time allows.
Each level is estimated to last three months.
4. Conclusion
Materials are obtained online, either from IEEE (ieee.tv) or other sources, articles from clame.org, Springer Publishing, and other online sources. There are books and articles in our Centro de Investigación en Matemática Educativa (CIMATE), the libraries in other Mexican institutions where this discipline is cultivated are available as well. There are Internet connections allowing some of this work to be done online, and some face to face. As mentioned before the need to communicate with peers appears fortunately at the same time that technological means open up for members of this global community.
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